Detent for wrench ratchet handles



y 1950 A. D. DOUGLAS 2,514,593

DETENT FOR WRENCH RATCHET HANDLES Filed June 11, 1947 Patented July 11, 1950 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2,514,598 I DETENT FOR WRENCH RATCHET HANDLES Arthur D. Douglas, Berkeley, Calif.

Application June 11, 1947, Serial No. 753,904

This invention relates to improvements in wrenches and provides a means for converting any conventional adjustable wrench into v a ratchet wrench, and consists of a ratchet and handle combination attachable to the shank of a wrench in place of the conventional handle.

It is particularly designed for use with pipe wrenches so that the wrench can be used in moderately restricted areas, or to prevent excessive marring of a pipe or the like, and yet permit the wrench to be used in the conventional Way, at will.

The ratchet handle can be made as an attachment to replace the conventional handle, or can be manufactured as a part of a wrench and includes the ratchet means and locking means to lockthe handle in a normal position.

Ratchet wrenches are well known in the art and conventionally consist of a ratchet handle with a socket for receiving sockets of different sizes to suit the various sizes of bolt heads and nuts, but such construction has no bearing on the present invention which is for use in connection with adjustable wrenches, such as pipe and monkey wrenches and in which adjustable sockets are not used and the ratchet operates on the shank of the wrench with adjustment of the wrench unaffected by the ratchet connection.

The ratchet is fixed to, or made integral with the shank of the Wrench with the handle axially pivoted in the ratchet, while special locking means is cooperative between the handle and the ratchet for locking the handle against the ratcheting action.

The objects and advantages of the invention are as follows:

First, to provide a ratchet handle for conventional adjustable wrenches to replace the conventional handle.

Second, to provide a ratchet handle as outlined which can be made as an integral part of a wrench during manufacture.

Third, to provide a ratchet handle as outlined with special locking means for locking the ratchet handle in a normal position for operation without the ratcheting action.

Fourth, to provide a ratchet handle for adjustable wrenches which is economically manufactured and convenient to use, and which will permit the use of the wrench in relatively restricted areas and lessen the marring of elements to be turned thereby.

In describing the invention reference will be made to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a pipe wrench embodying my invention.

. 1 Claim. (Cl. 74-627) Fig. 2 is a fragmentary view showing the ratchet formed as an integral part of the wrench shank.

Fig. 3 is a rear elevation of Fig. 2, partly shown in section to illustrate the ratchet lock.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary view showing the opposite side of the handle yoke to illustrate the locking device.

Fig. 5 is an enlarged fragmentary view showing the passage through one ear of the yoke for the ratchet lock.

Fig. 6 is an enlarged fragmentary view showing adjustable wrench, such as a monkey wrench or pipe wrench, Fig. 1 illustrates the invention applied to a pipe wrench having a fixed jaw [0 having a shank H; a movable or adjustable jaw [2 having a shank I 3 threaded as indicated at M and adjustable in the yoke [5 by means of the nut Hi; the yoke I5 being pivotally secured to the shank on the fixed jaw as indicated at H and urged forward by the leaf spring [8. A conventional handle is rigidly fixed to the lower end of the shank l I.

The invention consists of a ratchet which may be separately formed as indicated at l 9 and fixed to the shank as indicated at 20 or formed at the lower end of the shank as indicated at 2| and having an axial pivot 22 on which is pivoted the handle yoke 23 and which terminates in a handle 24, the yoke spanning the shank and ratchet as indicated in Fig. l or the combined shank and ratchet as indicated in Figs. 2 and 3.

Mounted in the yoke is a. pawl 25 having a pin 26 projecting through one side of the yoke for releasing the pawl from the ratchet to return the handle to the position 23' when the ratcheting vaction has reached its limit, and the pawl is urged to cooperate with the ratchet through the medium of the compression spring 21.

Mounted on the opposite side of the yoke is a leaf spring 28 which is secured at one end at 29, the other end having pivoted therein the locking device which consists of a pin 30 cylindrical throughout a portion of its length and having wings 3| in the portion next to the spring, and having means such as wings 32 on the other side of the spring for manual rotation.

A cylindrical hole 33 is formed in the ratchet and a wing passage 34 is formed through the one ear of the yoke to receive the wings 3 I.

For use as a conventional wrench with the handle in a normal position, the locking element is turned so that the wings 3| drop into the wing passages 34 under the urgence of the spring 28,

3 with the cylindrical portion 30 entering the passage 33 in the ratchet. This efiectively locks the handle against movement relative to the ratchet and shank, securing the handle in axial alignment with the shank.

When the ratchet is to be used, the locking device is retracted and turned at right angles to the wing passages with the Wings 3| resting on the outside of the yoke, the pin '26 is pulled down to release the pawl 25 from engagement with the ratchet, and the handle is swung forward to the position 23'. With the wrench gripped on the pipe or other object, the handle 24 is ratcheted back and then used to operate the wrench, and after the limit of movement is reached, the pawl is again retracted and the handle moved to its initial position after taking a new hold on the object.

This action is specially important where there is little space for movement of the handle, since there are many cases where a wrench could be used if there was no handle or handle extension, yet with this ratchet handle very slight movements of the handle can be. used under such conditions.

Furthermore, with the conventional pipe wrench, the pipe can be turned only as far as the handle itself can be swung, but with this arrangement it can be turned at least a, half turn more without taking a new grip on the pipe.

I claim:

Ratchet means comprising two handle members including a first member havin ratchet teeth formed about one end, and a second member terminating in a fork spanning said one end .and axially pivoted thereto; a manually retractable pawl and spring urging means therefor and mounted within a first bore formed axially in said second member for cooperation with said ratchet teeth; locking means comprising a pin having an engaging end and operating through a second bore formed transversely through one of the legs of said fork and engageable in a third bore formed transversely in said one end of said first member, for locking said first and second handle members in one position against relative movement; a leaf spring having one end attached to said one of said legs, with said pin rotatable -.in.a bore formed in the other end of said spring;

wings .formed on said pin to ride on the surface of said one of said legs when in one position, randsaidseoond bore having radial extensions for 1 reception of said wings for depression of the pin for engagement of said engaging end in said third bore; and a head for said pin for manual retraction and rotative adjustment.

ARTHUR D. DOUGLAS.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of reeordinthe file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS 

